Broiler



Oct. 6, 1959 J, E. CHAMBERS BRO ILER 4 Sheetsr-Sheet 1;

Filed May 23, 1955 lllllllllllllllllllllllll| jlllllll\lfi" Oct. 6, 1959 J. E. CHAMBERS BROILER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 23, 1955 Illll Illlllllllll 1" Oct. 6, 1959 J. E. CHAMBERS 2,907,317

BROILER Filed May 23, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 fjjpaxrliaiy Oct. 6, 1959 J. E. CHAMBERS BROILER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 23, 1955 United States Patent cc 1 BROILER Application May 23, 1955, Serial, No. 510,239

2 Claims. Cl. 126-41) This invention relates to a broiler adapted to be pivotally mounted to any suitable vertical supporting surface such as a wall or the splash back of a gas stove.

The broiler is pivoted to swing upwardly into substantially vertical position to conserve space when it is not being used. It may be mounted in a recess in a vertical wall surface to that it is flush with the Wall when not in use, or may be mounted in a wall cabinet. Even if the broiler is mounted to project outwardly from the wall surface, it requires very little space in its closed, vertical position.

The broiler comprises a base, a pan supporting unit and a burner unit which preferably are pivoted separately to the base. The independent pivotal support permits the pan supporting unit to be supported in horizontal position while the burner unit remains in its vertical inoperative position. This arrangement allows plenty of room to place the food which isto be broiled into the pan supporting unit without interference from the burner unit. After the food to be broiled is in place, the burner unit may be swung downwardly into its horizontal operative position. The burner unit may be moved downwardly into operative position at the same time as the pan supporting unit, and the pan holding the food to be broiled then slid into the pan supporting unit, but usually the burner unit is not moved into operative position until the food is in place because of the greater convenience afforded for manipulation of the food and pan with the burner unit out of the Way.

A reflector shield is mounted in spaced relationship to the top surface of the burner. The reflector shield is provided with a centrally disposed aperture in its top wall, and a deflectorplate is mounted above the opening. The upper surface of the deflector plate is flat so that it can serve as a hot plate, and food may be cooked in a utensil placed on it. The 'hot plate may also be used to keep food warm.

The burner unit is provided with a flange adapted to rest on the upper edge of the pan supporting unit when the broiler is in operative position to insure uniform vertical spacing between the burner and the pan supporting unit. The flange also prevents the burner from coming into direct contact with any of the food in the broiling pan.

The handle for operating the valve which regulates the flow of gas to the burner is arranged so that it is automatically moved to closed position when the burner unit is moved into its vertical position. The handle cannot be moved to open position while the burner is in vertical position. These safety features prevent a careless user from closing the broiler with the burner burning, and also prevent the accumulation of gas from an open valve when the broiler is closed.

The structure by which the above mentioned and other advantages of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

2,907,311 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 Figure 1 is a front elevational view ofa broiler embodying the invention in its vertical, inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the broiler in its inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the broiler in its horizontal operative position;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the broiler in its operative position;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the broiler pan for holding food which is to be broiled;

Fig. 6 is a front elevatioal view of the broiler with the pan supporting unit in horizontal position and the burner unit in vertical position;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 3, showing the burner unit in vertical position in dotted lines;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view, taken along line 10 of Fig-6;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the valve control mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 1212 of Fig. 6, with the front closure member in closed position;

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 13-13 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 14 is a view, similar to Fig 13, with the pan supporting unit in vertical position.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a vertical wall on which the broiler is mounted. It will be understood that the broiler might be supported on the back wall of a cabinet or on the splash plate of a gas stove. The base 3 of the broiler is secured to wall 2 in any suitable manner. Base 3 is vertically disposed relative to wall 2, and an integral base plate 4 extends forwardly from the lower edge of the base. A housing 5 is rigidly secured to base plate 4 and to base 3 adjacent one end thereof. The inner side of housing 5 is open. A similar housing 6 is secured to the opposite end of base plate 4 and base 3. Base plate 4 is provided with an opening 7 through which a gas inlet pipe 8 ex tends. Inlet pipe 8 is connected to a gas pipe 9 rigidly secured atits ends to housings 5 and 6 by means of end plates 10. A pipe 11 leads from gas pipe 9 to a rotary valve 12. The mechanism for operating valve 12 will be hereinafter described. A bracket 13, extending upwardly from pipe 9, supports one end of a conduit 14 having its other end connected to a fitting 15 extending from valve 12.'

A fitting 16 extends laterally from the end of conduit 14 adjacent bracket 13, and one end of the stem 17 of a burner neck 18 is rotatably supported on fitting 16. Burner neck 18 comprises a Y-shaped member, the stern 17 of which is a hollow shaft communicating with a hollow shaft 19 comprising one branch of the Y. Hollow shaft 19 leads directly to a burner 20 with which it is integral. The other branch 21 of the burner neck is closed at the end, and a stub shaft 22 projects therefrom. Shaft 22 is aligned with stem 17 andits outer end is rotatably supported in one end of a bracket 23 to permit burner 20 to be rotated between a vertical, inoperative position and a horizontal, operative position. The burner openings 24 are arranged to face downwardly when the burner is in operative position to direct the flames downwardly.

A pan supporting unit comprising a tray 44 and a pluto burner 20 by screws extending into legs 26 projecting from the burner. Shield 25 is provided with a large, centrally disposed aperture 27 and a heat deflecting plate 28V positioned over the aperture. Plate 28 has a flat up per surface to support a utensil containing food. Aperture 27 permits sufiicient heat to pass upwardly to cook the food in a utensil on plate 28 or to keep it warm for an indefinite period of time. A metal tray 29 is secured to shield 25 with its side walls 30 spaced from the side walls 31 of the shield. Tray 29 is provided with a large opening 32 extending over substantially the entire area of its top wall, A handle 33 projects laterally from one wall 30 or tray '29 to facilitate ro rational movement of the burner unit' which comprises burner 20, shield 25, deflector plate 28, and tray 29. A stop member 34 is positioned adjacent opposite side walls 30 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A front closure member 35 is pivotally secured to housings and 6 by means of lugs 36 and studs 37. A handle 38 projecting forwardly of closure 35' facilitates rotational movement of the closure between'a horizontal position forwardly of base 3 and a substantially vertical position parallel to base 3. A stud 39 projecting at right angles to closure 35 is provided with an enlarged head 40 adapted to pass through an aperture 41 in housing 6 and engage a resilient clip 42 to latch the closure member in closed position. Clip 42 is mounted on a bracket 43 secured to one wall of housing 6, as shown in Fig. 12.

A pan supporting unit comprising a tray 44 and a plurality of parallel pairs of side rails 45 is secured to the inner surface of closure member 35 by a screw 46 and nut 47. A pan 48 for holding food to be broiled is provided on its opposite ends with laterally extending flanges 49 adapted to rest on side rails 45. The pairs of side rails 45 permit pan 48 to be positioned at a selected distance from burner 20 to control the hroiling operation with greater accuracy than a single pair of side rails provides. Stop members 34 engage the top edge of tray 44 to limit the relative inward movement between burner 20 and tray 48.

The valve control mechanism comprises a lever 50 I rigidly secured, as indicated at 51, Fig. 11, to valve 12 to rotate therewith. Lever 50 has a projection 52 adapted to engage a stud 53 projecting laterally from tray 44 when the tray is swung upwardly with front closure member 35 about the studs 37. When the front closure is swung upwardly to its closed, vertical position, stud 5 3 abuts projection 52 and rotates lever 50 to close the valve. While closure member 35 is in its closed pry sition lever 50 cannot be rotated to open the valve and the gas must remain off.

For normal operation of valve 12 when closure 35 is in its horizontal position, a bar 54 is secured at one end to one end of lever 50, as indicated at 55. The other end of bar 54 is pivotally secured to a link 56 (Fig. 10) rigidly secured to a pin 57. Pin 57 is rotatably mounted in a housing 58 secured to closure member 35, and a handle 59 is rigidly secured to the pin. Handle 59 is rotated manually to rotate valve 12 into open or closed position.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood 4 that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

I claim:

1. A broiler comprising a vertically disposed base, a pair of housings rigidly secured to opposite ends of said base adjacent its lower edge, a closure member pivotally secured to said housings, a pan supporting unit rigidly secured to said closure member, whereby said closure member and pan supporting unit may be rotated forwardly and downwardly from a vertical inoperative position to a horizontal operative position, a gas pipe having opposite ends rigidly secured to said housings, a gas burner having a neck provided with a tubular shaft, a stub shaft aligned with said tubular shaft, a gas conduit extending upwardly from said gas pipe, said gas conduit communicating with said gas pipe and having a fitting at one end engaging the open end of said tubular shaft, said tubular shaft being rotatably supported on said fitting, a bracket extending upwardly from said gas pipe, said stub shaft being rotatably supported on said bracket, whereby said burner may be rotated forwardly and downwardly from a vertical inoperative position to a horizontal operative position into engagement with the upper edge of said pan supporting unit.

2. A broiler comprising a base adapted to be secured to a vertical supporting surface, a burner unit pivoted to swing between a vertical, inoperative position and a horizontal, operative position, a closure member pivoted to swing between a vertical, closed position and a horizontal, open position, a pan supporting unit secured to said closure member and moveable therewith, said pan supporting unit comprising a pair of upstanding side walls, and stop means on said burner unit adapted to engage the upper edge of one of the side walls of said pan supporting unit when said pan supporting unit and said burner unit are in horizontal position to space said burner unit in predetermined relationship to said pan supporting unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,768,662 Buckley July 1, 1930 1,851,853 Lindemann Mar. 29, 1932 2,011,848 Chambers Aug. 20, 1935 2,102,482 Parker Dec. 14, 1937 2,207,307 Teller et al. July 9, 1940 2,294,701 Teller et al. Sept. 1, 1942 2,578,227 Chambers Dec. 11, 1951 2,624,331 Kennedy Jan. 6, 1953 2,668,527 Chambers Feb. 9, 1954 2,675,796 Van Helden Apr. 20, 1954 2,685,637 Oatley Aug. 3, 1954 2,694,392 Oatley Nov. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,826 Great Britain Dec. 21, 1911 w r w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noa 2,907,317 October 6, 1959 John E. Chambers or appears in the printed specification ed patent requiring correction and that the said Letters as corrected below.

Patent should re ad Column 1, line 21, for "to that" read so that column 2, line 69, for "A pan supporting unit comprising a tray 44 and a plu-" read A reflector shield 25 is secured in spaced relationship column 3, line 10, for "or tray" read of tray Signed and sealed this 5th day of April 1960.;

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Ho AXLINE ROBERT 'C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

